German police are appealing for witnesses after stones were thrown onto a boxship from a bridge over the Kiel Canal.

The 1,440-teu Emotion (built 2008) was heading east from Bremerhaven to Gdynia when the incident occurred at Hochdonn on Tuesday night, Boyens Medien reported.

Crew heard a loud noise on deck and saw three people on the railway bridge.

Several large stones were later found on the poop deck and on the wheelhouse.